Sat Mar 01 16:26:27 UTC 2025: ## Geneva to Host Emergency Conference on Israeli-Occupied Territories
**GENEVA** – Switzerland will host an emergency conference next week, bringing together 196 states party to the Geneva Conventions, to address the humanitarian crisis in Israeli-occupied territories. The conference, scheduled for March 7th, follows a request from the UN General Assembly last September during the height of the 15-month Gaza conflict.
The move comes amidst concerns over the displacement of tens of thousands of Palestinians from West Bank camps in recent weeks, following a ceasefire that ended the devastating conflict which left over 45,000 Palestinians dead. Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz has ordered troops to prepare for a prolonged stay in the cleared camps, indicating no imminent return for displaced residents. This raises fears of potential annexation.
The conference will focus on the application of the Fourth Geneva Convention, which outlines protections for civilians in occupied territories. Similar conferences were held in 1999, 2001, and 2014. The Swiss Foreign Ministry confirmed the conference in response to Reuters inquiries. The conference aims to address the dire humanitarian situation resulting from the conflict and the subsequent displacement of Palestinians.
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